Retractable hard top system for convertible car

ABSTRACT

The system ( 11 ) comprises at least a first front roof element ( 15 ) hinged relative to the rear roof element ( 1 ) and means for controlling pivoting of the first front roof element ( 15 ) relative to the rear roof element ( 1 ). The means for guiding the rear roof element ( 1 ) and the means for controlling the first front roof element ( 15 ) are arranged in such a manner as to guide said first front roof element ( 15 ) along a predetermined path ( 16 ) to a retracted position ( 15   a ) in which the first front roof element ( 15 ) is stowed in a substantially vertical position behind the back seat ( 8 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to a retractable hard top systemfor a convertible vehicle.

[0002] A retractable hard top system for a convertible vehicle isdisclosed in particular by French patent application 99/15106 whichdiscloses a system comprising a rear roof element mounted on thestructure of the vehicle via guide means arranged in such a manner thatthe rear roof element is capable of being retracted into the rear trunkof said vehicle in generally pivoting movement starting from its closedposition, said pivoting being rearwards during a first stage and thenforwards during a second stage into the retracted position in which saidrear roof element is stowed in a substantially horizontal position withits concave side facing downwards.

[0003] The first step of pivoting rearwards serves in particular to movethe rear roof element out of the way to release the correspondingopening in order to allow the other roof elements to be retracted intothe rear trunk of the vehicle.

[0004] In the example described, the rear roof element pivots about twopivots situated on a common pivot axis and on respective side walls ofthe vehicle.

[0005] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, a rear roof element 1pivoting about its pivot axis 2 is of length L1 as measured in the planeof the figure, which length corresponds to the radius of thecircumference 3 described by the top edge 4 of the front edge face 5 ofsaid rear roof element 1.

[0006] To be able to house the rear roof element 1 in the rear trunk 6,it is necessary for the space available between the pivot axis 2 and therear face 7 of the back seat 8, as represented by L2, to be greater thanthe length L1.

[0007] It is also necessary to take account of the length L3 whichrepresents the length available for passengers inside the cabin 9 of thevehicle 10 and which needs to be covered by other roof elements whichmust also be housed in the space L2.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks ofknown systems and to propose a retractable hard top system of theabove-specified type giving the designer of the vehicle very greatfreedom of action to adapt a retractable hard top system to a vehicle ofany given type.

[0009] According to the invention, the retractable hard top system ofthe above-specified type is characterized in that it further comprisesat least a first front roof element hinged relative to said rear roofelement and control means for controlling pivoting of said first frontroof element relative to the rear roof element, and in that said meansfor guiding the rear roof element and said means for controlling thefirst front roof element are arranged in such a manner as to guide saidfirst front roof element along a predetermined path to a retractedposition in which the first front roof element is stowed in asubstantially vertical position behind the back seat of the vehicle.

[0010] This makes it possible to select the respective dimensions of therear roof element and of the first front roof element as a function ofthe dimensions of the rear trunk of the vehicle in the vertical andlongitudinal directions.

[0011] Such a system can also be installed on a vehicle of relativelygreat length, since the system enables the first front roof element tobe stowed in a position that is relatively convenient, therebysimplifying the problem of also stowing any other front roof elements inthe rear trunk.

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the present inventionappear in the following detailed description.

[0013] In the accompanying drawings, given purely as nonlimitingexamples:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a vehiclehaving a prior art retractable hard top system;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a larger-scale view showing a detail of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a larger-scale fragmentary view in section on IV-IV ofFIG. 3;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a larger-scale fragmentary view in section on V-V ofFIG. 3;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a larger-scale fragmentary view in section on VI-VI ofFIG. 3;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in section on VII-VII of FIG. 6;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a larger-scale fragmentary view in section on VIII-VIIIof FIG. 3;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a larger-scale fragmentary view in section on IX-IX ofFIG. 3;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in section on X-X of FIG. 9;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 3 showing anotherembodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

[0026]FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are larger-scale views showing a detail ofFIG. 3 and constituting by way of example three different embodiments ofmeans for driving the rear roof element of the system of the presentinvention.

[0027] The description below uses the reference numerals already usedabove when describing the prior art shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 10, the retractable hardtop system 11 for a convertible vehicle 10 comprises a rear roof element1 mounted on the structure 2 of the vehicle 10 by guide means.

[0029] The guide means are arranged in such a manner that the rear roofelement 1 can be retracted into the rear trunk 6 of the vehicle 10 bygenerally pivoting motion starting from its closed position shown incontinuous lines in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0030] In a first step, this pivoting takes place rearwards in thedirection of arrow 13, clockwise in the figures, and then in a secondstep it takes place forwards in the direction of arrow 14, i.e.counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3, until the retracted position 1 a isreached as represented by chain-dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 in whichthe rear roof element 1 is stowed in a substantially horizontalposition, with its concave side facing downwards.

[0031] In the present invention, the system 11 further comprises atleast a first front roof element 15 hinged relative to the rear roofelement 1, and means for controlling pivoting of the front roof element15 relative to the rear roof element 1.

[0032] The means for guiding the rear roof element and the means forcontrolling the first front roof element 15 are arranged in such amanner as to guide the first front roof element 15 along a predeterminedtrajectory 16 to a retracted position 15 a shown in chain-dotted linesin FIGS. 2 and 3 in which the first front roof element 15 is stowed in asubstantially vertical position behind the rear face 7 of the back seat8 of the vehicle 10.

[0033] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the path 16 is the pathfollowed by the top edge 17 of the front edge face 18 of the first frontroof element 15.

[0034] This path 16 is predetermined so as to move the first front roofelement 15 away from sealing gaskets (not shown) against which it ispressed when the roof is in the closed position, and then to avoidobstacles that might impede displacement of the edge 17, e.g. the topedge face 19 of the rollbar 20 for protecting the head 21 of a backseatpassenger whose outline is shown diagrammatically at 22, said passengersitting on the back seat 8 of the vehicle 10.

[0035] Naturally, the path 16 is preferably determined in such a mannerthat the retracted position 15 a of the first front roof element 15 isas close as possible to the rear face 7 of the back seat 8.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the rear roof element 1 may be mounted topivot about two pivot axes 2 each carried by a side lug 2 a of the roofelement 1 and by the corresponding side wall (not shown) of thestructure 12 of the vehicle 10.

[0037] It is then appropriate to ensure that the respective pivotingmovements of the rear roof element 1 relative to the structure 12 and ofthe first front roof element 15 relative to the rear roof element 1 arecoordinated in precise manner so as to ensure that the path 16 isfollowed.

[0038] By way of example, each of these pivoting movements can becontrolled by a respective electric motor powered in suitable manner.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in particular in FIG. 3, the rear roofelement 1 carries, on either side of the vehicle 10, a respective pairof pivot wheels 23 mounted to slide in a common slideway 24 formed inthe corresponding side wall of the vehicle in a longitudinal verticalplane thereof (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0040] Starting from its end 24 b corresponding to the closed positionof the rear roof element 1, each slideway 24 has a top end in theexample of FIG. 3 with its concave side facing towards the inside of thevehicle (forwards, i.e. to the left in the figure) so as to cause saidrear roof element 1 to pivot rearwards during the initial stage ofpivoting.

[0041] Starting from its end 24 a corresponding to the rear roof element1 being in its retracted position, each slideway 24 has its concave sidefacing towards the outside of the vehicle 10 (i.e. towards the rear andto the right in FIG. 3) so as to cause said rear roof element 1 to pivotforwards during the second stage of its pivoting.

[0042] Each slideway 24 is thus substantially S-shaped.

[0043] The two wheels 23 on the same side of a vehicle are carried by aprojection 25 extending downwards from the bottom edge face 26 of therear roof element 1 (see FIG. 6).

[0044] The result of the two wheels 23 sliding in a common slideway 24is to achieve extremely precise guidance of the pivoting movement of therear roof element 1.

[0045] This embodiment makes it possible to ensure that in its retractedposition 1 a, the rear roof element 1 is at a maximum height B1 abovethe floor 27 of the rear trunk 6, where B1 is less than the height B(see FIG. 2) of the bottom edge face 26 of the rear roof element 1 whenit is in its closed position. The advantage presented by thischaracteristic is explained below.

[0046] The first front roof element 15 is hinged on either side of thevehicle to the rear roof element 1 above a first hinge axis 28 situatedclose to the front edge face 5 of the rear roof element 1 and carried bya finger 29 projecting towards the rear of the vehicle 10 relative tothe rear edge face 30 of the front roof element 15 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0047] Each finger 29 is extended rearwards beyond said first hinge axis28 to a rear end that carries a second hinge axis 31 to hinge the finger29 to the top end 32 a of a control lever 32.

[0048] The bottom end 32 b of each control lever 32 is hinged to a firstend 33 a of a pivot arm 33 pivotally mounted in its middle portion abouta pivot 34 carried by the rear roof element 1, in the example shown bythe corresponding projection 25 of the rear roof element 1 (see FIG. 8).

[0049] The second end 33 b of each pivot arm 33 carries a wheel 39 thatslides in a second slideway 40 carried by the structure 12 of thevehicle 10 (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0050] Like the system shown in FIG. 1, the retractable hard top systemof FIG. 3 further comprises at least one front roof element 35 that issituated, when the roof is in its closed position, in front of the firstfront roof element 15, and indeed, in the example shown, a third frontroof element 36 that is situated in front of the second front roofelement 35.

[0051] Naturally, the system 11 has means for moving the second frontroof element 35 from its closed position as shown in continuous lines inFIGS. 1 and 2 to its retracted open position 35 a in the rear trunk 6 ofthe vehicle 10.

[0052] In the example shown, the retractable hard top system 11 has twoarms 37, 38 hinged at their respective bottom ends 37 a, 38 a to thestructure 12 of the vehicle, and at their respective top ends 37 b, 38 bto the second front roof element 35 so as to form a deformableparallelogram or quadrilateral capable of guiding the second front roofelement 35 to its retracted position 35 a.

[0053] In this example, when the second front roof element 35 is in itsretracted position 35 a, it is situated above the rear roof element 1,itself placed in its retracted position 1 a.

[0054] Although this disposition is the simplest to implement, it isnevertheless not the only possible disposition.

[0055] The third front roof element 36 is in turn connected to thesecond front roof element 35 by any known guide means, such as pivotarms or slideways co-operating with wheels or with connecting rods,capable of guiding the sliding of the third front roof element 36between its closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a position inwhich it has been slid rearwards (not shown) where it is secured to thesecond front roof element 35, above it or below it, so as to follow themovement of said second front roof element 35 into its retractedposition 35 a.

[0056] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, when the second and thirdfront roof elements 35 and 36 are in the retracted position 35 a, 36 a,they occupy vertical space represented by C above the rear roof element1 in its retracted position 1 a.

[0057] That is why it is particularly advantageous to be able tominimize the height B1 as mentioned above so as to be able to ensurethat the roof system in its retracted position does not projectsignificantly beyond the height B of the bodywork of the vehicle,allowance being made for a certain amount of overlap between thedistances B1 and G made possible by the curved shape of the roofelements 35 and 36 and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.

[0058] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 corresponds to avehicle of the two compartment type for example of the station-wagontype or of the minivan type, in which the rear roof element 1 in theclosed position extends in a direction that departs relatively littlefrom the vertical.

[0059] In the figures it can be seen that the two slideways 24 and 40extend generally substantially vertically or in a direction that is at asmall angle relative to the vertical.

[0060]FIGS. 11 and 12 show an embodiment of the retractable hard topsystem of the present invention fitted to a vehicle of the threecompartment type in which the rear trunk 6 is closed by a hatch 41extending substantially horizontally.

[0061] The embodiment of FIG. 11 has a rear roof element 1 and a firstfront roof element 15 extending to the top rear edge 42 of thewindshield 43. These two elements can be retracted into the rear trunk 6respectively in a substantially horizontal position and in asubstantially vertical position.

[0062] In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the roof system comprises a rearroof element 1 having a first front roof element 15 hinged thereto, anda second front roof element 35 connected by pivot arms 37 and 38 to thestructure 12 of the vehicle, as described above.

[0063] It can be seen that in these two embodiments, the two slideways24 and 40 extend generally in a direction that forms a small anglerelative to the horizontal.

[0064] It can also be seen that in these embodiments, each slideway 24,40 has its concave side facing towards the inside of the vehiclestarting from its end corresponding to the closed position of the roof,i.e. facing downwards in the figures, and has its concave side facingtowards the outside of the vehicle starting from its opposite endcorresponding to the roof being in the retracted position, i.e. upwardsin this example.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, an electric or hydraulicactuator 44 has its bottom end 45 hinged to the structure 12 of thevehicle and the top end 46 of its rod 47 hinged to the projection 25from the rear roof element 1. There is preferably one actuator 44 oneach side of the vehicle. Each actuator 44 pulls the rear roof element 1downwards in order to open and retract the roof system 11. Each actuator44 thrusts the rear roof element 1 upwards in order to reclose the roofsystem 11.

[0066] In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the rear roof element 1 carries anelectric motor 48, preferably one on each side of the vehicle, whichmotor controls a pinion 49 engaging a rack 50 having the shape of thecorresponding slideway 24 so as to cause the wheels 23 to slide in onedirection or the other along the corresponding slideway 24.

[0067] In the embodiment of FIG. 15, a motor 51 fixed to the structure12 of the vehicle acts via a pinion 52 to drive a cog belt 53 that formsa closed loop and that is fixed at 54 to the corresponding projection 25from the rear roof element 1. Turning the pinion 52 in one direction orthe other causes the rear roof element 1 to be displaced in onedirection or the other.

[0068] Finally, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the rear roofelement 1 may have a back window 55 hinged via its top portion at 56 tothe rear roof element 1 so as to be capable of opening in the directionof arrow 57 (counterclockwise in the figure) so as to provide an openingin the top portion of the rear of the vehicle 10 when the roof system 11is closed.

[0069] The roof system 11 operates simply.

[0070] During the displacement of the rear roof element 1 downwardsalong the slideway 24, the arm 33 pivoting about the pivot 34 entrainsthe wheel 39 which slides in the slideway 40, whose shape causes the arm33 to move angularly.

[0071] The angular displacement of the arm 33 entrains the bottom end 32b of the lever 32. Each lever 32 causes the first front roof element 15to turn relative to the rear roof element 1.

[0072] A retractable hard top system is thus described that is reliableand simple in structure, giving vehicle designers a large amount offreedom in housing the roof elements inside the rear trunk when space islimited both vertically and longitudinally, said roof system beingadaptable to vehicles of relatively different shapes and sizes.

[0073] Naturally, the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, and numerous changes and modifications canbe made thereto without going beyond the field of the invention.

1/ A retractable hard top roof system (11) for a convertible vehicle (10), the system comprising a rear roof element (1) mounted on the structure (12) of the vehicle (10) via guide means arranged in such a manner that the rear roof element (1) is capable of being retracted into the rear trunk (6) of said vehicle (10) in generally pivoting movement starting from its closed position, said pivoting being rearwards during a first stage and then forwards during a second stage into the retracted position (1 a) in which said rear roof element (1) is stowed in a substantially horizontal position with its concave side facing downwards, the system (11) being characterized in that it further comprises at least a first front roof element (15) hinged relative to said rear roof element (1) and control means for controlling pivoting of said first front roof element (15) relative to the rear roof element (1), and in that said means for guiding the rear roof element (1) and said means for controlling the first front roof element (15) are arranged in such a manner as to guide said first front roof element (15) along a predetermined path (16) to a retracted position (15 a) in which the first front roof element (15) is stowed in a substantially vertical position behind the back seat (8) of the vehicle (10). 2/ A roof system according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear roof element (1) carries a respective pair of wheels (23) on each side of the vehicle, the two wheels in each pair being mounted to slide in a common slideway (24) having its concave side starting from its end (24 b) corresponding to the closed position of the rear roof element (1) facing towards the inside of the vehicle (10) for rearward pivoting of said rear roof element (1), and having its concave side starting from its end (24 a) corresponding to the retracted position (1 a) of the rear roof element (1) facing towards the outside of the vehicle (10) for the forward pivoting of said rear roof element (1). 3/ A roof system according to claim 2, characterized in that the two wheels (23) of each pair are carried by a respective projection (25) extending downwards from the bottom edge face (26) of the rear roof element (1). 4/ A roof system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the first front roof element (15) is hinged on either side of the vehicle about a first hinge axis (28) situated close to the front edge face (5) of the rear roof element (1) and carried by a finger (29) projecting towards the rear of the vehicle (10) relative to the rear edge face (30) of said front roof element (15). 5/ A roof system according to claim 4, characterized in that each finger (29) extends beyond said first hinge axis (28) to a rear end carrying a second hinge axis (31) for hinging said finger (29) to the top end (32 a) of a respective control lever (32). 6/ A roof system according to claim 5, characterized in that the bottom end (32 b) of each control lever (32) is hinged to a first end (33 a) of a pivot arm (33) pivotally mounted in its middle portion about a pivot (34) carried by the rear roof element (1). 7/ A roof system according to claim 6, characterized in that the second end (33 b) of each pivot arm (33) carries a wheel (39) sliding in a second slideway (40) carried by the structure (12) of the vehicle (10). 8/ A roof system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises at least a second front roof element (35) situated in the closed position of the roof in front of the first front roof element (15), and means (37, 38) for displacing said second front roof element (35) from its closed position to its retracted open position (35 a) in the rear trunk (6) of the vehicle (10). 9/ A roof system according to any preceding claim, the vehicle (10) being of the two compartment type, characterized in that the two slideways (24, 40) extend generally in a substantially vertical direction. 10/ A roof system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the vehicle (10) being of the three compartment type, the system being characterized in that the two slideways (24, 40) extend generally in a direction that makes an angle with the horizontal. 